WLS Chicago Sign On 1967 (0:02:40)

… beginning another week of fun for everyone …
[Description by Douglas Pierce ] I recorded this way back in August of 1967. Radio stations usually used the Sunday midnight through early Monday morning hours for maintenance of equipment. Early one Monday morning I was able to hear and catch “The Radio Station WLS Sign On”. It was recorded 145 miles from Chicago, 12 miles east of Kalamazoo. Augusta, Michigan was my childhood residence. I would DX many of the big stations. There was some signal fading and static in the air that morning, but to this day, I am very proud of this segment. WLS, as well as WCFL, were powerhouses during this period of time.

Welcome to the new ReelRadio!

This site is now operated by the North Carolina Broadcast History Museum. 

We want to thank the board of ReelRadio, Inc. for their stewardship since the passing of the founder Richard Irwin in 2018.  It has not been easy and they have maintained the exhibits for future generations to enjoy.

I met Richard Irwin, aka Uncle Ricky, when we were freshmen at East Carolina University.  We both had worked at local stations in our hometowns.  No one was more passionate about radio, especially Top 40 radio, than my friend Richard. 

Our goals with this site are to preserve the exhibits and make them available free of charge for people to enjoy.  Over time, we hope to add some airchecks to the site.  This will not happen immediately.  Time and resources will determine the future of new exhibits. 

Many thanks to the web folks at the Beasley Media Group for countless hours of work.  Again thanks to the board members of ReelRadio, Inc. for their faith in us. 

Richard Irwin’s hope was that his site would live on long after his passing. He said, “I hope REELRADIO will survive as my contribution to the ‘radio business’. The business is allowed to forget me, but the business should never forget the great era of radio that we celebrate here”.

We remember Richard and we thank him. If you enjoy this new site, we would appreciate a contribution. We hope you enjoy the new ReelRadio!

Carl Davis
Trustee
North Carolina Broadcast History Museum